Chapter 456: Taigen (Loughshinny Clan Leader)

Almost simultaneously, the four figures nearby shifted their gazes, coldly staring at Li Yuanjiao. Their various colored pupils shimmered with magical light, and all illusions were repelled by the magic mirror. Lu Jiangxian’s heart felt as if a mountain was collapsing and the earth splitting; he was utterly terrified.

*This is Qingsong Temple! It’s their trap! To lure me here!*

Lu Jiangxian held his breath, his mind blank, saying nothing. Fortunately, he hadn't revealed this scene to Li Yuanjiao, who remained oblivious, flying back and forth in the palm of His hand.

After the initial shock passed, Lu Jiangxian quickly calmed down.

“No… it’s not me… they’re looking for the inheritor of Qingsong Temple, and also Yingze… I merely stumbled into this… I almost got tricked into revealing myself…”

He closed his eyes for over ten breaths, then heard a slightly more neutral voice, like melting metal and merging mercury, speak:

“Taiyuan, what’s going on?”

The jade crown above True Monarch Taiyuan’s head slowly glowed. His silver-white circular pupils moved, and his voice was ethereal:

“Nothing… I saw him observing from such a distance, so I just tested him. It turns out he’s a descendant of Li Qianyuan of Mingyang; it’s normal for him to sense something.”

True Monarch Taiyuan’s voice was ethereal, yet Lu Jiangxian felt a platinum-colored power flash like lightning into Li Yuanjiao’s mind, brutally sweeping through all his memories.

Li Yuanjiao remained oblivious. The rune seed in his Qi Sea faintly flickered as he gradually flew away. Lu Jiangxian’s apprehension slightly subsided, and he looked intently, seeing a golden figure slowly emerge among the figures on Taiyuan’s shoulder.

This person's face was identical to Li Yuanjiao’s, but his eyes were golden-white, and his expression was one of suspicion. He gripped a long sword, poised to strike, like a statue.

“Taiyuan!”

From the north, a vague voice sounded, and a burst of white mist suddenly erupted from True Monarch Taiyuan’s shoulder, turning the figure to dust.

“Li Qianyuan treated you well.”

True Monarch Taiyuan’s silver-white pupils moved, and a sound like clashing metal echoed between heaven and earth as he slowly said:

“If not for Mingyang’s good treatment of me, there would be no Li family in Wangyue Lake.”

As Li Yuanjiao sped away, Lu Jiangxian’s heart turned cold. He gradually stopped hearing the words of the five True Monarchs, only perceiving their five towering figures, who watched the bustling cultivators on the island as if they were ants.

*Fortunately, I didn’t let Li Yuanjiao see this scene, otherwise, these five would definitely have noticed… not to mention what Li Yuanjiao would become after seeing the Golden Core state…*

If Li Yuanjiao had entered this scene, he would most likely have lost his composure on the spot, been discovered by the True Monarchs, and been unable to conceal himself any longer.

What made him even more vigilant was that, in the eyes of the Golden Core True Monarchs, Qingsong Temple was merely bait, intended to lure out the cultivator named Yingze, who had intricate ties to Qingsong Temple. The five were stationed there, just waiting for Yingze to walk into their trap.

“If that’s the case, then Qingsong Temple is already surrounded by an inescapable net, and one cannot enter casually.”

Lu Jiangxian could almost foresee that with the five True Monarchs observing Qingsong Grotto-heaven, entering it himself would be courting death. The moment Li Yuanjiao revealed him, a True Monarch would instantly break into Qingsong Temple, and the Li family of Wangyue Lake would be overthrown.

The pupils of the five figures seemed to still flicker before his eyes. Lu Jiangxian felt capable of finding the entrance, yet he had a headache.

“Am I supposed to let Li Yuanjiao casually walk into the grotto-heaven as if returning home, right in front of the five True Monarchs? That would be suicide…”

This was his only chance to obtain the component from Yu Muxian, and Lu Jiangxian did not want to give up. He scanned the island, his gaze slowly focusing on a young man with a golden hammer.

Li Yuanjiao was also greatly troubled. The Immortal Mirror couldn’t clearly discern the situation within the grotto-heaven, meaning the plan to enter had failed, and only Li Xuanfeng could go in alone.

However, if Li Xuanfeng entered alone, it was uncertain whether he could kill Yu Muxian. Li Xuanfeng was not proficient in swordsmanship, making it difficult to unleash the full sword intent of the Azure Ruler Sword. Moreover, he would constantly have to draw his bow to suppress, making it hard to multitask and slay him.

As he flew low, repeatedly searching with the Immortal Mirror, he paused, then suddenly saw a rather familiar young man.

“Tulon Jian! He’s here!”

This young man was no longer in his tattered old clothes; he wore a rather luxurious feathered robe, carried a large golden hammer, and rode a dark-black flying shuttle, appearing even more opulent than Li Yuanjiao, the head of a prominent family.

Although his attire had changed dramatically, his face remained the same, still carrying a hint of youthfulness. Li Yuanjiao recalled how the demonic cultivator from years ago had been defeated by an unknown rogue cultivator, and combining that memory with the descriptions, this person seemed to be him.

“I once spared this person’s life… I wonder if these Children of Destiny keep their word…”

Li Yuanjiao pondered briefly, then gritted his teeth.

“The only option now is to try this person. I always wanted to avoid getting involved with these individuals… but there’s no other way.”

Though it was an act of seeking repayment for a past favor, Li Yuanjiao still adhered to a method. He didn't carelessly fly over; instead, he took out the Profound Rune Bottle from his sleeve.

He had used this artifact to conceal his figure and obscure his appearance and features in front of Tulong Jian back then. Now, he tilted the jade bottle, summoned the Profound Rune Spirit Mist, and completely enveloped himself.

Feigning indifference, he drifted leisurely into the island on the wind, wandering aimlessly, occasionally changing direction, slowly approaching Tulong Jian.

Along the way, he encountered several groups of rogue cultivators, which Li Yuanjiao cautiously and slowly avoided. The Profound Rune Spirit Mist inherently had the effect of concealing aura, so remarkably, no one discovered him throughout his journey.

Upon reaching the western part of the island, he saw a patch of gravel ground abruptly rupture, with a vein of fire gushing out, rising eight or nine feet above the ground. Dark-black earth fire malevolence and flames erupted, causing Li Yuanjiao to stop, his expression peculiar.

“I estimate Tulong Jian’s path will pass through this very spot…”

Li Yuanjiao, aided by the Immortal Mirror, could perceive the entire island, which allowed him to discover this small fire vein leakage. Immediately, he perked up, slowly drifted over, arriving a step ahead of Tulong Jian, sat down cross-legged, and took out a jade bottle.

He performed a Qi-gathering incantation, and the flames and malevolence from the earth vein immediately swarmed towards him, drilling into the jade bottle in his hand, dragging long black and red fiery tails, forming a slender vortex.

His Qi-gathering speed was not fast. He quietly waited there, anticipating Tulong Jian’s arrival.

After just over ten breaths, a figure clad in a dark-black feathered robe and riding a flying shuttle appeared not far away. The young man, carrying a long golden hammer on his shoulder, casually looked over.

*Aha! This fire vein is perfect for refining the Malign Fire Spirit Source.*

He took a few steps forward and noticed a cultivator already drawing malevolent fire next to the fire vein. The cultivator seemed to be protected by a concealment treasure, as he hadn’t noticed them at first glance. Golden light flowed in his eyes, and he quickly identified a mass of grayish-white Profound Rune Spirit Mist.

“Hm?!”

Tulon Jian was slightly stunned. After several breaths, he was both surprised and delighted.

“I’ve finally found this senior!”